Chandrayaan-2 launch likely next March

The capacity of the solid propellant plant in Shar is also being enhanced to facilitate launching of heavy satellites.

Indian Space Research Organisation

Nellore: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is gearing up to launch the Chandrayaan-2 Mission in March next year, director of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Shar, P. Kunhi Krishnan told media persons on the sidelines of the Independence Day celebrations at Sriharikota, on Tuesday.

Four rockets, including three Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV) and one Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle will be launched before the end of this year. The first one, the PSLV-C39 with navigation satellite IRNSS-1H will be launched on July 31, 2018 from Shar.

Next PSLV missions likely in September
IRNSS-1H is meant to augment the existing seven satellites of the NavIC constellation, and is one among two spare satellites planned as part of NavIC.

The next two PSLV missions are likely to be in September and November and a communication satellite will go on board the GSLV before the end of this year.

Mr Krishnan also said that the construction of the 96-metre-tall second vehicle assembly building has been completed up to 82 metres and it should be ready within the next six months.

The capacity of the solid propellant plant in Shar is also being enhanced to facilitate launching of heavy satellites.

In addition to this, 29 new work stations will come up in Shar under the Augmentation of Solid Motor Production (ASMP) facilities project to increase the number of motors from the present six to 12 for PSLV and GSLV first stage.

This facility will also be used to produce a motor for the third stage of the PSLV.

A new PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) is being built one-and-a-half kilometres from the first launch pad to assemble the PSLV up to the fourth stage and move it to the first launch pad to increase the number of PSLV missions from the present six to 12 per annum.